Apparatus for sterilizing ampoules and reject control system therefor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for treating liquid filled ampoules at a temperature high enough to sterilize but not high enough to cause destruction of the ampules and their contents, for example, liquid medicine. A substantially fail-safe detection and rejection system measures the temperature of each ampoule after sterilization and sorts out those heated to a temperature outside the acceptable range. The system includes checks of the power supply, black body reference temperature, pyrometer operation, and the synchronizing pulse system and rejects not only those ampoules out of temperature but a certain number of ampoules tested before the system becomes defective and after it has been restored to proper order as well as those tested while the system is defective.

United States Patent Murayama et al.

1451 Apr. 29, 1975 [5 1 APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING 3.356.212 12/1967Landin 209/1115 AMPOULES AND REJECT CONTROL 3.587 855 6/1971 Roy 1 1209/1115 SYQTEM THEREFOR 3.747.755 7/1973 Scnturia et a1 209/1115 [75]Inventors: Teruo Murayama, Niiza; Mamoru FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSIrizllki, Kunitachi; Yuichi 1029.792 12/1970 Germany 21/102 R Morishita,Akikawa, both of Tokyo; f p f f v y Kanae Primary Examiner-Barry S.Richman Murakaml; Hlmlch' Matsushltav Assistant E.\'amincr-Bradley R.Garris both of Toyomlku, of Japan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Webb, Burden,Robinson & 173 Assignees: Nihon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha, Webb Tokyo;Tanabe Seiyaku Co., Ltd..

Osaka. both of Japan 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1973 An apparatusfor treating liquid filled ampoules at a temperature high enough tosterilize but not high 7 [211 App! NO 421 6 6 enough to causedestruction of the ampules and the1r contents, for example, liquidmedicine. A substantially [30] Foreign Application Priority Datafail-safe detection and rejection system measures the Dec. 7. 1972 Japan47-122880 temperature of ach mpoule after sterilization and sorts outthose heated to a temperature outside the ac [52] U.S. C1 21/102 R;21/54 R; 21/80; cepmble range. The system includes checks of the 21/103;21/105; 209/1115 power supply, black body reference temperature. py

[51 1 Int. Cl A61] 3/02; B07c 5/34; B07c 5/344 rometer operation, andthe synchronizing pulse system 158] Field of Search 21/54 R, 80, 102 R.105; n r jects not only those ampoules out of tempera- 219/1 55 R, 1055A 55 (3; 99/334 360 ture but a certain number of ampoules tested before362, 483; 426/241; 209/1 1 1.5 the system becomes defective and after ithas been restored to proper order as well as those tested while the [561References Cited system is defective UNITED STATES PATENTS 28 Claims, 14Drawing Figures 3.341.010 9/1967 Switzer 209/1115 Power Ch k (13'cfro/11b term/111112 1511 Power /5 L [c 430 Source i Cuunter Pyrometer 1,6 Check l 1/ Generator W, [50 1 1 Signal Po we "4 1/00 1 Prncessi ySource g 5 522C il/fie J $5 ['71 I Magnetron GUS/*6 0/ 5L awe Power (2 ab Source 6 Sourc +l 5 7 211d S nc 1, '1 Ag}; Generetar 1 30b i 300. 1

1 1 1 l I3 [I [a 4 l3 I3 I 1 6b 4 Pawer l0 0- Black 5011/ /4 50 1/ rce[21, check ['7 FKI'ENTEEAPR 2 9 38. 5

SHEET BF 6 APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING AMPOULES AND REJECT CONTROL SYSTEMTHEREFOR This invention relates to an apparatus for sterlizingliquidfilled ampoules with microwave radiation and particularly to anapparatus for automatically sorting acceptable and unacceptable ampoulesaccording to the temperatures of the ampoules after they have undergonea sterilizing treatment.

For producing sterile liquid agents such as medicinal injection agents.filled ampoules are generally given sterilizing treatment includingexternal heating in a heated bath or steam of liquid. As a substitutefor the external sterilizing method described. another method comprisingirradiating the sealed ampoules of such medicinal liquid with microwaveshaving a frequency of about 300 to 10.000 MHz for a period of severalseconds to several minutes while rotating them has been suggested(German Pat. Publication No. 2,029,792). The medicinal liquid is heatedso quickly that there are various advantages. Certain medicinal liquidscan be perfectly sterilized by the action of the microwaves withoutdecomposing. Particularly. in the case of scaled ampoules. by rollingthem through a heating chamber irradiated with microwaves whilemaintaining the ampoules properly inclined. the medicinal liquid isagitated in the ampoules and its temperature rises uniformly due to thecombined effect of a convection action due to a temperature rise andmixing due to the rotation of the ampoules. This method is adaptable toaatomatically sterlizing many ampoules in sucession. thus improvingproductivity significantly.

When a medicinal liquid is sterilized by a heating treatment. pyrolysismay occur in the liquid if the heating temperature is too high. Perfectsterilization however. is impossible if the heating temperature is toolow. Thus. sterilization has an allowable range and this range is verysmall. As a result. in the microwave sterilizing method. an ampoule maybe heated outside the allowable temperature range due to the combinedeffect of slight changes in factors such as the strength of themicrowave energies. the quantity of enclosed liquid and the microwaveradiating time period. In the case of continuous sterilization. theresidence time of an ampoule passing through a heating chamber isparticularly controlled by the velocity of the ampoule conveying means.

An ampoule heated outside the allowable range of temperature isconsidered defective because the contents are decomposed or thesterilization is imperfect. Defective ampoules must be sorted withouterror from the good ampoules heated within the allowable range oftemperature.

A purpose of this invention is to offer an apparatus for sterlizingliquid filled ampoules by heating them with microwaves. Another purposeof this invention is to offer a substantially fail-safe apparatus forsorting good ampoules heated within a desired temperature range fromdefective ampoules heated outside the desired temperature range.

Briefly. according to this invention. an ampoule sterilizing apparatusrolls ampoules successively through a microwave oven. next through atemperature measuring chamber and then to a sorter. The ampoules aremoved through the sterilizer by a conveyor having substantially equallyspaced receptacles for the ampoules. Preferably. the temperaturemeasuring device comprises for example. a radiation pyrometer and ablack body reference arranged such that the pyrometer focuses on theblack body reference between successive ampoule temperaturemeasurements. The measuring device and conveyor means are arranged toproduce two sets of synchronizing pulses. one set aligned with themeasurement of ampoule temperature and the second set aligned with theblack body reference temperature measurement. The sterilizer has acircuit associ ated therewith for comparing the actual ampouletemperature with an acceptable range and a delay circuit for opening thesorter to reject out-of-temperature (defective) ampoules when they areconveyed to the sorter. Preferably. the sterilizer is renderedsubstantially fail-safe by check circuits which check the power supplyto the temperature measuring and comparing circuits and other checkcircuits. the pyrometer operation. the synchronizing pulse circuits andthe black body reference temperature. Preferably. the check circuitscause rejection of a certain number of ampoules measured before a defectin the system arises. during the defect. and after the defect isremoved. Reference errors in sorting due to sorter malfunction areminimized by having two spaced Sorters each actuated by its own logiccircuit.

Further features and other objects and advantages of this invention willbe better understood by the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a schematic diagram showing an example of a sterilizingapparatus embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an oblique view of an example of an ampoule conveying means;

FIG. 3 shows an example of an ampoule sorter:

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a radiation pyrometer;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of electric signals in said apparatus according tothis invention:

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a synchronizing signalgenerator 601:;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a black body reference temperature checkcircuit;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a power supply check circuit;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a radiation pyrometer check circuit;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a synchronizing signal pulse checkcircuit;

FIG. 11 shows an example of an integration circuit in the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a logic circuit I30for combining the output of several check circuits in the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a signal generatingcircuit for creating a holding pulse in the apparatus illustrated inFIG. I; and.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of a signal processingcircuit for comparing the measured ampoule temperature with anacceptable range and instructing the sorter to reject the ampoule whenit reaches the sorter in the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. I, a heating chamber 1 comprises an oven and/or a waveguide. Microwaves having a frequency. for example. of 2.450 MHz. fromthe micro wave source 2 such as magnetron are fed into the heatingchamber 1 through wave guide 3. The strength of the microwaves from themicrowave source 2 are controlled by the power source 4. Adjacent tosaid heating chamber 1 is a temperature detecting chamber equipped witha typical radiation pyrometer 40 employing an infrared detector andblack body reference 10.

A conveyor or conveying means 20 is arranged to roll the ampoulesthrough the heating chamber 1 and the adjacent temperature detectingchamber 5. The direction of the conveyors movement is indicated by thearrow A in FIG. 1. The conveyor 20 comprises spaced receptacles forholding the ampoules a fixed distance I apart. The detecting chamber isarranged to hold at least two ampoules and the intermediate spacetherebetween at one time. Hence. the detecting chamber defines at leastthree aisles V2 1 wide. The infrared detector or pyrometer 40 is spacedon one side of the conveyor opposite the black body reference on theother side of the conveyor both being within one side of the aforesaidaisles. The base 12 over which the conveyor rides is provided withopenings 12a. 12b. and 120 in each of the aisles described above.

Synchronization or alignment of the position of the conveyor 20 withinthe heating chamber and the remainder of the system (to be described) isachieved by two timing lights 6a and 6b and two photodetector tubes 7aand 71). Light 6a and tube 741 are aligned across the conveyor in anaisle. the center of which is place /2l (or 111+]. where n is any wholenumber) from the center of the aisle for the detector 40 and black body10, as shown in FIG. 1. The light 612 and tube 7/; are aligned acrossthe conveyor in an aisle. the center of which is spaced 1 (or nl) fromthe center of the aisle for the detector and black body reference. Sincethe conveyor 20 has openings 13 equally spaced between the ampoulereceptacles which become aligned between the lights and detectors as theconveyor moves by. phototube 7h produces a pulse when the pyrometer 40is directed on the black body reference 10 and phototube 70 produces apulse when the pyrometer 40 is directed upon an ampoule.

In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1, holes 12a, 12b and 120 arespaced /2/ apart on the base 12. On opposite sides of the base radiationpyrometer 40, black body 10 and hole 12a align, the phototube 7a, lightsource 6a and hole 121; align and the phototube 7!), light source 6b andhole 12c align. The holes 13 in the conveyor between adjacent ampoulereceptacles pass over the holes 12a. 12b and 12c in order as saidconveying means 20 moves on. Therefore. at one instant. as the conveyingmeans 20 moves on. the radiation receiving face of the radiationpyrometer 40 is irradiated by infrared radiation emitted from theampoule 11 moving below and at a later instant the pyrometer isirradiated by infrared radiation emitted from the conveying means 20 andfrom the black body reference 10.

The infrared beams are transduced to electric temperature signals by theradiation pyrometer 40. The de' tected temperature and reference signalsare supplied to the pyrometer check circuit 90 and the signal processingcircuit 150.

The phototubes 7a and 7b transduce the beams from the light sources 6aand 6b to electric signals as a hole 13 on the conveying means 20 passesabove the holes 12!: and 120 of the base 12, and these detected signalsare supplied respectively to synchronizing signal generators 60a and60b, which generate the first and second synchronizing signals.respectively on the basis of the input signals.

The first synchronizing signal generated by the syn chronizing signalgenerator 60a aligns with the meas urement of the temperature of theampoule 11 by the pyrometer 40, since the pitch between two adjacentampoule receptacles of the conveying means 20 is twice the interval(V2!) between the holes 12a and 12b. The first synchronizing signal issupplied to the synchronizing signal check circuit 100, signalgenerating circuit 120, counting circuit 140, and the signal processingcircuit 150.

The second synchronizing signal generated by the synchronizing signalgenerating circuit 60b aligns with the detection of the temperature ofthe black body reference 10 by the radiation pyrometer 40. The secondsynchronizing signal is supplied to the check circuits 90 and 100.

The generation of said first and second synchronizing signals invariablyaligns with the detection of the temperature of the heated ampoule 11and that of an infrared beam from the black body reference 10 eventhough the velocity of the conveying means 20 may vary since thedistances of the phototubes 7a and 7b from the radiation pyrometer 40are /21 and I( l=Pitch of conveyed ampoules 11 respectively.

Said black body reference 10 is maintained at a constant temperature bythe power source 14. and the temperature of said black body reference 10is detected by the check circuit as an electric signal corresponding tosaid temperature and it is always compared with the reference signal.When the above-mentioned temperature is within the range of thereference signal (normal) said check circuit 70 generates the pulse land when beyond the range (abnormal) the circuit generates the pulse 0".Said pulse is supplied through the terminals 15a and 15b to the logiccircuit 130. By checking the temperature of the black body reference 10in this manner. mixing of good ampoules with defective ampoules due to achange of the black body reference temperature can be prevented.

The power supplied by the power source 16 to all circuits is compared.with a reference signal by the check circuit 80. When the power source16 is within the range of the reference signal (normal) said checkcircuit generates the pulse 1. and when beyond the range (abnormal) saidcircuit 80 generates the pulse 0. Either pulse is supplied to the logiccircuit 130. By checking the output of the power source 16 in thismanner. mixing of good ampoules with defective ampoules due to allcircuit error resulting from an unstable supply voltage can beprevented.

The pyrometer check circuit of the radiation pyrometer 40 extracts areference signal corresponding to the detected temperature of thereference temperature source maintained at a known constant temperature.and checks whether said extracted signal is a desired value and whetherthe radiation pyrometer 40 is normally operating. Therefore. thepyrometer check circuit 90 extracts a temperature signal of the blackbody reference 10 which is the reference temperature source. out of thetemperature signals which were detected by the radiation pyrometer 40 byusing the sec ond synchronizing signal and compares said temperaturesignal with the reference signal. When said temperature signal is withinthe range of the reference signal (normal) said pyrometer check circuit90 generates the pulse 1, and when beyond the range (abnormal) thecircuit 90 generates the pulse (I. Said output pulse I or is supplied tothe logic circuit 130.

The check circuit 100 checks whether synchronizing signals fed by thesynchronizing signal generators 60a and 60h are normal. When normal.said check circuit generates the pulse 1 and when abnormal. the circuitgenerates pulse 0. Said output pulse l or (I is supplied to the logiccircuit 130.

The logic circuit 130 generates the pulse 1 when all input signals are apulse 1 (normal) and said circuit generates the pulse 0 when any of theinput signals is the pulse 0 (abnormal). Said output pulse 1 or O issupplied to the signal processing circuit 150 and to signal generator120. The logic determines whether all the ampoule sterilizationapparatus is normal since the input signals are supplied from the checkcircuits 70. 80. 90 and 100.

On the basis of the first synchronizing signal from the synchronizingsignal generator 60a and the pulse 1 or 0 from the logic circuit 130,the signal generator 120 generates an abnormality signal for an extendedcertain period of time. Accordingly. when the output pulse of the logiccircuit 130 is 0 (any part of the apparatus is abnormal) at the time ofa given first synchronization signal and for a time after the output ofall circuits returns to normal. ampoules are condemned until theapparatus stabilizes. Therefore. the reliabilty of the apparatusimproves significantly. The output pulse I (normal) or 0 (abnormal) ofsaid signal generator 120 is supplied to the signal processing circuit150.

By comparing the ampoule temperature signal with the reference signal.the signal processing circuit 150 checks whether the ampoules passingbelow the light receiving face of the radiation pyrometer 40 have beenheated to a desired temperature range and generates the logic outputs ofsaid check signal and other input signals. The logic outputs aregood-ampoule signals only when all input signals are normal. anddefective ampoule signals when any of the signals are abnormal.

The output signal of said signal processing circuit 150 is supplied tothe power sources 17a and 17b and the counting circuit 140. The powersources 17:: and 17b drive the ampoule sorters 30a and 30b to dropdefective ampoules through the holes 12d and 120 provided in the base12, only when a defective ampoule signal has been supplied or the systemis defective. The counting circuit 140 counts good'ampoule signals anddefectiveampoule signals separately.

The ampoule sorters 30a and 30b are provided in positions spaced apartfrom the temperature detector 5 by integral multiples of the pitch (1)between two ampoules of the conveying means 20, for example. by 101 and8/. respectively. Accordingly. the signal processing circuit 150contains two time adjusting circuits differing in time lag so as toequalize the time from the detection ofthe ampoule temperature by theradiation in py' rometer 40 until the operation of the ampoule sorterson the basis of said detection signal and the time until a temperaturemeasured ampoule is conveyed from the lower side of radiation pyrometer40 to the ampoule sorters a and 30h. By providing a plurality of ampoulesorters in this manner. it is possible to compensate for a malfunctionfor one ampoule sorter with the other ampoule sorter. and as a result.defective ampoules and good ampoules can be more correctly sorted out.

FIG. 2 is an oblique view showing an example of the conveying means 20for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. The conveying means consists ofthe belt moving continuously on the base 12 in the direction indicatedby the arrow and the conveying body 22 attached to said belt conveyor21. Said conveying body has slender cogs 23 arranged to roll theampoules 11 over the base 12. The couplers 24 join said cogs at theirends. Each cog 23 has the above-mentioned hole 13. The coupler 24 hasthe same width as that of the belt conveyor 21, and it is fastened tothe belt conveyor 21.

The ampoules 11 and material to be heated are positioned in ampoulereceptacles between cogs 23 and are conveyed in direct contact with thebase 12 which is inclined to the vertical line to the extent that anenclosed liquid may not enter the branch part of the ampoule while theampoule is rotated by cog 23 in the direction indicated by the arrow Band a contact resistance (frictional force) between the ampoule and thebase 12. To convey an ampoule as inclined to the vertical line. the base12 and the conveying means 20 may be inclined beforehand so that thebranch of the ampoule should be up. An optimum inclination angle of anordinary one milliliter ampoule with respect to said vertical line is 45to But said inclination varies according to the kind and shape of theampoule.

The ampoule drop preventing supporter 25 integrated with the coupler 24prevents an ampoule being conveyed as inclined from dropping from theampoule receptacle of the conveying means 20.

Slots 12d and 12 in the base 12 slightly larger than the barrel part ofan ampoule are provided at certain distances (for example 101 and 81)from the hole 12a (refer to FIG. 1) in the downstream direction (inparallel with the ampoule). Below the holes 12d and l2e are the ampoulesorters 30a and 3011 (refer to FIG. 1).

To convey an ampoule properly inclined. it is desirable that the surfaceof the base 12 contacting the ampoule 11 should be slightly uneven.Thereby, since a contact resistance (frictional force) between the base12 and the ampoule 11 becomes by far larger than that between the cog 23and the ampoule 11, the ampoule can be securely rotated. The entiresurface need not be uneven.

If the cog 23 has a trapezoidal cross section as shown in FIG. 2, theampoule can be more securely rotated. since a pressure of the cog 23produces a component of force pushing up on the ampoule 11. In thiscase, an optimum angle 6 (see FIG. 2) is to about FIG. 3 shows anexample of the ampoule sorters 30a (or 30h) illustrated in FIG. 1. Theampoule sorters have. as mentioned earlier. a sliding door 31 providedbelow the hole 12d (or of the base 12. and a solenoid mechanism 32 forcontrolling the movement of said sliding door 31. The door is integralwith the end of the moving shaft 33 of the solenoid mechanism 32, andblocks the hole 12d (or 120) of the base 12 with the aid of the coilspring 34. A stopper 35 limits the lengthwise movement of the door.

In this ampoule sorter. if a signal is supplied by the power source 17a(or 1717) the moving shaft 33 is drawn against a force of the coiledspring 34 and the door 31 moves in parallel with the base 12 to open thehole 12:! (or 120). Accordingly. the ampoule passing through saidampoule sorter 3011 (or 30h) drops as indicated by the broken line andis removed by the guide 36.

If a signal from the power source 1711 (or 17b) is shut off. the movablepiece 31 blocks the hole 12:! (or 120) again with the aid of a force ofthe coiled spring 34.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the parts of the radiationpyrometer 40. The pyrometer comprises a chopper plate 42 driven by motor41 at a constant angular velocity. The chopper plate is provided withequally spaced slits 42a. The infrared detector 44 detects infraredbeams passing through the slits 42a of the chopper plate 42 and convertsthe beams into signals according to their intensity. This signal is thenoperated upon by amplifier 45, band pass filter 46 synchronizesrectifier 47 and low pass filter 48. The radiation pyrometer alsocomprises a synchronizing signal generator which generates a signalaligned with the chopping frequency for the infrared beam. The generatoris aligned by a timing signal created by a phototube 50 which isactuated by a light from lamp 49 passing through slits 42a of chopperplate 42. The pyrometer cooperates with a black body reference 43 set ata temperature (for example 120C) approximately equal to that of a heatedampoule.

In this apparatus as heated ampoules have been conveyed successively bythe conveying means 20 below the light receiving face of the radiationpyrometer 40 as shown in FIG. 1, the intensity of the infrared beamreaching the chopper plate 42 changes as shown in FIG. (a). In thisfigure. 55 shows the intensity of the infrared beam radiating from theheated ampoules, 56 shows the intensity of the infrared beam radiatingfrom the conveying means 20 and 57-shows the intensity of the infraredbeam radiating from the black body (refer to FIG. I). Said infraredbeams are chopped by the chopper plate 42 with a frequency of lKHz, forexample, and the infrared beam radiating from the black body 43 and saidinfrared beams reach the infrared detector alternately.

Said infrared beams are converted by the infrared detector 44 aselectric signals according to their intensity and supplied through theamplifier 45 to the band pass filer 46. The band pass filter 46, havinga passing bandwidth around the frequency (for example lKHz) whichchopped the above-mentioned infrared beams, supplies signals to thesynchronous rectifier 47. The synchronous rectifier 47 is supplied witha synchronizing signal which synchronizes with the chopping frequency ofthe above-mentioned infrared beams from the synchronizing signalgenerator 51. Said synchronous rectifier 47 synchronously rectifies theinput signal from the band pass filter 46 with the aid of saidsynchronizing signal and supplies the signal to the low pass filter 48.

The low pass filter 48 eliminates the high frequency components in theinput signal and supplies the signal as a temperature signal through theoutput terminal 52 to the check circuit 90 and the signal processingcircuit 150 in FIG. 1. The output signal of the low pass filter 48 hasthe same form as the wave form in FIG. 5 (h) namely, that of theinfrared beam reaching the chopper plate 42.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the first synchronizingsignal generator 60a illustrated in FIG. I. Said synchronizing signalgenerator has an amplifier 61 which amplifies the input signal from thephototube 7a. The wave forming circuit 62 generates the firstsynchronizing signal as shown in FIG. 5 (c). The

output of said wave forming circuit 62, namely. the first synchronizingsignal synchronizes with the ampoule temperature signal among thetemperature signals which are supplied from the radiation pyrometer 40to the signal processing circuit 150 as mentioned earlier. The firstsynchronizing signal is supplied through the terminal 63 to the checkcircuit 100, signal generating circuit 120, counting circuit 140, andthe signal pro cessing circuit 150. The synchronizing signal generatorshown in FIG. 6'can be used as the second synchronizing signal generator60b of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. In this case, the output ofthe wave forming circuit. namely, the second synchronizing signalsynchro nizes as shown in FIG. 5(d). with the black bodytemperaturesignal among the temperature signals which are supplied from theradiation pyrometer 40 to the signal processing circuit 150. H

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the black body referencecheck circuit in the apparatus illustrated in FIG. I. Said circuitcomprises the temperature detecting circuit 71 which detects thetemperature of the black body 10 as an electric signal, upper and lowerlimit detectors 72 and 73 which compare the output of said temperaturedetecting circuit 71 with the upper and lower reference signals.reversing circuit 74 which reverses the output of said detector 72, theNAND circuit 75, which generates the NAND output of said reversingcircuit 74 and that of the lower limit detector 73, and the reversingcircuit 76 which reverses said NAND outputs. v

The temperature detecting circuit 71 may be a bridge type circuitcombining a thermistor (which is an element the resistant value of whichvaries with temperature) and three resistors. The thermistor or the likeis positioned within the black body. Thus. a signal (voltage) generatedacross the bridge circuit corresponds to a temperature change in theblack body 10. This signal is supplied to the upper limit detector 72and the lower limit detector 73 where it is compared to upper limit andlower limit reference signals respectively.

The reference signal of the upper limit detector 72 corresponds to thetemperature detector output signal when the temperature of the blackbody is at its upper acceptable limit. When the input signal from saidtemperature detector 71 is over the reference signal value (abnormal)the pulse 1 is generated. and when below the reference signal value(normal) the pulse 0 is generated. Said pulse 1' or 0 is supplied theNAND circuit after it is reversed by the reversing circuit 74.

The reference signal of the lower limit detector 73 corresponds to thetemperature detector output signal when the temperature of the blackbody is at its lower acceptable limit. When the input signal from theabovementioned temperature detector 71 is over the reference signalvalue (normal) the pulse 1 is generated, and when below the referencesignal value (abnormal) the pulse 0 is generated. Said pulse 1 or 0 issupplied to the NAND circuit 75.

The NAND circuit 75 generates the pulse 0 when both input signals are lnamely, the temperature of the black body 10 is within the allowablerange (normal) and it generates the pulse 1 when either of the inputsignals is thepulse 0 (abnormal). Said NAND is supplied through theterminal 77 to the logic circuit after it is reversed to l or O by thereversing circuit 76. Therefore. the output pulse of said check circuit70 is I when the temperature of the black body is normal and whenabnormal.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the power supply checkcircuit 80 in the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. Said circuitcomprises the upper and lower limit detectors 82 and 83 which compare asignal supplied through the terminal 81 from the power source 16 withthe upper and lower reference signals. circuit 84 which reverses theoutput of the upper limit detector 82, NAND circuit 85 which generatesthe NAND outputs for the output of said reversing circuit 84 and that ofsaid lower limit detector 83 and the reversing circuit 86 which reversesthe output of said NAND circuit 85.

The functions of the circuits 82, 83, 84, 85 and 86 composing said checkcircuit are respectively the same as those of the circuits 72, 73, 74,75 and 76 composing the check circuit shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, asignal supplied through the terminal 87 to the logic circuit 130 is thepulse 1 when the output of the power source 16 is normal, and the pulse0 when abnormal.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the pyrometer check circuit 90 in theapparatus illustrated in FIG. I. Said circuit 90 comprises the samplehold circuit 93 which samples a temperature signal corresponding to thetemperature of the black body (refer to FIG. 1) among temperaturesignals supplied from the radiation pyrometer 40 to the input terminal91 with the aid of the second synchronizing signal supplied to the inputterminal 92 and which holds said sampled signal until the next sampling.upper and lower limit detectors 94 and 95 v which compare the samplewith the upper and lower reference signals, reversing circuit 96 whichreverses the output of the upper limit detector 94, NAND circuit 97which generates the NAND outputs for the output of said reversingcircuit 96 and that of said lower limit detector 95, and the reversingcircuit 98 which reverses the output of said NAND circuit 97.

The reference signal values set in the abovementioned upper and lowerlimit detectors 94 and 95 are the upper and lower acceptable limitvalues of the temperature signal of the black body 10 supplied from theabove-mentioned circuit 93. The functions of said upper and lower limitdetectors 94 and 95, reversing circuits 96 and 98, and the NAND circuit97 are respectively the same as those of the detectors 72 and 73,reversing circuits 74 and 76, and the NAND circuit 75 illustrated inFIG. 7. Accordingly, said check circuit 90 generates the pulse 1 whenthe radiation pyrometer 40 is normal and the pulse 0 when abnormal.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the synchronizingsignal check circuit 100 in the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. Saidcircuit checks whether the first and second synchronizing signalgenerating circuits 60a and 6011 are normal and whether the first andsecond synchronizing signals are normal and condemns all the signalstemporarily stored in the time adjusting circuit in the signalprocessing circuit 150 in case said synchronizing signals are abnormal.In this circuit, the first synchronizing signal is supplied to theterminal 101, the second synchronizing signal is supplied to theterminal 102. These synchronizing signals are wave formed by the waveforming circuits 103, 104 and 105.

In the up-down counter 106, the first synchronizing signal is suppliedfrom the wave forming circuit 103 to the adding terminal, the secondsynchronizing signal is supplied from the wave forming circuit 104 tothe subtracting terminal and the output of the monostable multivibrator109 is supplied to the clear terminal. Since the counter 106 activatesin order to add the first synchronizing signal for addition and tosubtract the second synchronizing signal for subtraction, when the fiistand second synchronizing signals are normal, the output is always thepulse 0 and when either of the synchronizing signals is abnormal forinstance, either is absent or it contains a noise, the output is 1 sincecounting is performed in the positive or negative direction.

In the flip-flop 108, the output of said up-down counter is supplied tothe set terminal and the output of the monostable multivibrator 109 issupplied to the reset terminal. The reset output of said flip-flop 108is the pulse 1 (abnormal) when the output of said counter 106 is thepulse 1 (abnormal), and the pulse 0 (normal) when the pulse 0 (normal).

In the 4-bits counter 107, the reset output of the flipflop 108 issupplied to the clear terminal and the output of the wave formingcircuit 103 is supplied to the adding terminal. Therefore, when saidreset output is the pulse 1 (abnormal) said counter 107 begins to count.If said counter 107 counts 16 of the first synchronizing signalssupplied from the wave forming circuit 103, said counter 107 generatesthe pulse 1 and supplies it to the monostable multivibrator 109. Saidcounter I07 continues to generate the pulse l (normal) until and unlessit is cleared.

The output of the monostable multivibrator 109 is the constant pulse Iwhen the output of said counter 107 is the pulse l (normal) and thepulse 0 when the pulse 0 (abnormal). Said output is supplied to theclear terminal of said counter 106 and the reset terminal of saidflipflop 108. Hence, in abnormal operation. the monostable multivibratoris relaxed and provides no output signal. The up-down counter continuesto produce a pulse 0 output until a first or second synchroniz ing pulseis missed. At this time, the counter 106 generates a pulse 1 which causeflip-flop 108 to produce a pulse 1 indicative of the abnormal condition.The abnormal pulse of the flip-flop immediately clears the 4-bit counterwhich then counts, for example, 16 first synchronizing pulses and thenproduces an output pulse 1. This pulse triggers the monostablemultivibrator which provides a pulse to clear the counter 106 and resetthe flip-flop 108. Hence, if a synchronizing pulse is missed, thesynchronizing pulse check circuit provides a synchronizing circuitunacceptable for at least the next l6 pulses and then resumes vigilancefor missing synchronizing pulses.

The integration circuit 110 comprises, as shown in FIG. 11, the element171 which is opened and closed by the first synchronizing signalsupplied from the wave forming circuit 105, integrating condenser 172connected in parallel with said element, resistor 173 connected betweena DC. power source (not illustrated) and the integrating condenser, andthe bias resistor 174. In said circuit, only when the firstsynchronizing signal is supplied through the terminal 175 to theopenclose element 171, said element becomes conductive and dischargeselectricity from the integrating condenser 172. Therefore, if there isno synchronizing signal, the integrating condenser 172 continues to becharged raising the electric potential. The potential at the terminal176 is supplied to the comparator 111.

By comparing the potential at the above-mentioned integration circuit110 with the reference signal, said comparator 111 generates the pulsewhen said potential is below the reference signal value (normal) and thepulse 1 when over the reference signal value (abnormal). The output ofsaid comparator is supplied through the reversing circuit 114 to theNAND circuit 116. The above-mentioned reference signal value is slightlyover the maximum potential obtained when the first synchronizing signalis normal. Thus. by providing the wave forming circuit 105, integrationcircuit 110 and the comparator 111, it is possible to detect thedefective condition that the first and second synchronizing signals areabnormal at the same time.

The NAND circuit 116 generates the pulse 0 only when both the resetoutput supplied through the reversing circuit 112 to the flip-flop 108and the output of the reversing circuit 114 are the pulse 1 (normal).and said pulse is supplied through the reversing circuit 115 and theterminal 117 to the logic circuit 130. Therefore, the check circuit 100of said synchronizing signal generates the pulse 1 only when the firstand second synchronizing signals are normal.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the logic circuit 130 in the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1. Said logic circuit comprises the NAND circuit 131and the reversing circuit 132. The NAND circuit 131 is supplied with theoutput of the check circuits 70, 80, 90 and 100 through the terminals133, 134, 135 and 136, and it generates the pulse 0 only when all inputsare the pulse I (normal). The output of said NAND circuit is suppliedthrough the terminal 137 to the signal generator 120 and the signalprocessing circuit 150 after it is reversed by the reversing circuit132..

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the signal generator120 in the apparatus illustrated in FIG.

1. When the output of the above-mentioned logic circuit 130 is the pulse0 (abnormal) said generator generates an abnormality signal (pulse 0)for a certain period of time and condemns all ampoules during suchperiod. The signal generator 120 wave forms the first synchronizingsignal supplied through the terminal 126 with the aid of the waveforming circuit 121, supplied said signal to the adding terminal of the4-bits counter 122 and supplied the output of the above-mentioned logiccircuit 130 supplied to the terminal 127, through the reversing circuit124, to the clear terminal of said counter 122. Accordingly. saidcounter 122 is cleared when the output of the logic circuit 130 is thepulse 0 (abnormal), and continues to generate a defective signal (pulse0) until and unless the output of the logic circuit 130 and that of thewave forming circuit 121 generate the pulse 1 (normal). 16 consecutivetimes. The output of said counter is supplied to the reset terminal ofthe flip-flop 123. The set terminal of said flip flop 123 is suppliedwith the output of the above-mentioned reversing circuit 124.Accordingly, when the reset input is the pulse 0 and the set input isthe pulse 1 (abnormal). the reset output of said flip-flop generates thepulse 1 and when the reset input is the pulse 1 and the set input is thepulse 0 (normal). it generates the pulse 0. Further. when the resetinput is the pulse 0 and the set input is the pulse 0, the previousstate remains. That is to say, the reset output of said flip-flop is thepulse 0 only when normal. Said flip-flop output is reversed to the pulse1 or 0 by the reversing circuit 125, and then is supplied through theterminal 128 to the signal processing circuit 150.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of the signal processingcircuit in the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. The circuit comprises apair of discriminating circuits 150a and l50h. The discriminatingcircuit 150a has a check circuit comprising the upper and lower limitdetectors 151a and 15241. reversing circuits 153a and 15411 and the NANDcircuit a.

The upper limit detector 151a has been set at the reference signal whichlies within the allowable range of the upper limit of the temperaturesignal supplied to the input terminal 166, and the lower limit detector152a has been set at the reference signal which lies within theallowable range of the lower limit. Like the detectors 72 and 73illustrated in FIG. 7, said detectors 151a and 1520 generate the pulse 1or 0 by comparing the temperature signal with the reference signal.Accordingly, both detectors generate the pulse 1 when the temperaturesignal is above the allowable range of the upper limit (abnormal) andboth detectors generate the pulse 0 when the temperature signal is belowthe allowable range of the lower limit (abnormal). Further, the upperlimit detector 151a generates the pulse 0 and the lower limit detector152a generates the pulse 1 when the temperature signal is within theallowable range of the reference signal (normal).

The reversing circuit 153a reverses the output I or 0 of the upper limitdetector 15111 to O or 1 respectively and supplied said pulse to theNAND circuit 155a.

Said NAND circuit 1550 is supplied the output of the reversing circuit15311. the output of the lower detector 152a. and the firstsynchronizing signal through the input terminal 167. Said circuitgenerates the pulse 0 only when all input signals are the pulse 1(normal), and when there is the pulse 0 (abnormal) among the inputsignals. it generates the pulse 0. Accordingly, when the temperaturesignal (refer to No. 57 in FIG. 5) of the black body 10 (refer toFIG. 1) among the temperature signals supplied to the input terminal 166have been supplied to the NAND circuit 155a, the output of said NANDcircuit is the pulse 1 which is distinguishable from a good-ampoulesignal, pulse 0 since the first synchronizing signal is the pulse 0(refer to FIG. 5 (a) and (6)).

When the ampoule temperature signal is normal, the output of said NANDcircuit 1550. as shown in FIG. 5 (e), has a wave form reverse to that ofthe first synchronizing signal shown in FIG. 5 (c). Said pulse 0 or I issupplied to the NAND circuit 156a after it is reversed to the pulse 1 or0 respectively, by the reversing circuit 154a as shown in FIG. 5(f).

Said NAND circuit 156a generates the pulse 0 only when a check signalsupplied from the reversing circuit 154a and the output of the logiccircuit 130 is supplied through the terminal 168 are the pulse 1(normal) and it generates the pulse 1 on another occasion (where thereis any pulse 0 namely. in an abnormal case). Accordingly. the output ofsaid NAND circuit takes such a wave form as in FIG. 5 (e) when bothinput signals are normal.

The NAND circuit 157:: is supplied with the first synchronizing signalthrough the terminal 167. It generates the pulse 0 only when the inputsignal from the abovementioned NAND circuit 156a is the pulse 1(abnormal) and generates the pulse l on other occasions. This is to say.said NAND circuit continues to the pulse 1 (good ampoule signal) untiland unless the input signal from said NAND circuit 156a turns into thepulse 1 (abnormal). Said pulse 1 or O is supplied through the reversingcircuit 158a to the flip flop 15%.

The set input of said flip flop 159a. is supplied with the output ofsaid reversing circuit 158a. and the reset input is supplied with theoutput signal of the NAND circuit 156a through the reversing circuit160a. Therefore. the set output of said flip-flop continues to generatethe pulse 1 (good ampoule signal) until and unless the set input turnsinto the pulse 1 (defective ampoule signal). The output signal of saidflip-flop is supplied to the shift register 161a.

Said shift register 161a is a time adjusting circuit for equalizing thetime from the measurement of the ampoule temperature by the radiationpyrometer until the starting of the ampoule sorter 300 according to saidtemperature signal and the time until the temperature measured ampouleis conveyed from the underside of the radiation pyrometer to the ampoulesorter 30a.

Said shift register 161a is supplied with the first synchronizing signalwave-formed by the wave forming circuit 162a as a clock pulse. Saidshift register 161a has ll bits. for example. and the 9th. 10th. llthbits are connected to the NAND circuit 163a. Accordingly, the inputsignals from the flip-flop are shifted one by one to the last bit by theclock pulse. The signals shifted to the 9th. 10th and llth bits aresupplied to the NAND circuit 163a. Therefore. the NAND circuit 163agenerates three consecutive defective ampoule signals (pulses 1) when adefective ampoule signal (pulse 0) exists among the input signals.

The output of said NAND circuit 163a is supplied to the NAND circuit165a after it is reversed by the reversing circuit 164a.

Said NAND circuit 165a is supplied with the outputs of theabovementioned logic circuit 130 and the signal generating circuit 120through the terminal 168 and 169. Said circuit 165a generates the pulse0 only when all input signals are the pulse 1 (normal). The output ofsaid NAND circuit is supplied through the terminal 170a to the powersource 17a illustrated in FIG. 1.

As mentioned earlier, the power source 17a energizes the ampoule sortera only when the output of the NAND circuit 165a is the pulse 1(abnormal).

On the other hand. the above-mentioned discriminating circuit 15012 isthe same as the other discriminating circuit except that the number ofbits of the shift register 1611) is different. Therefore. the output ofthe NAND circuit 16511 is supplied to the power source 1712 illustratedin FIG. 1.

The shift register [6112 which is a time adjusting circuit has 9 bitsfor example. since the ampoule sorter 30b illustrated in FIG. 1 isprovided 21 nearer to the temperature detector 5 than the ampoule sorter30a. Therefore, the 7th. 8th and 9th bits are connected to the NANDcircuit 163k.

Hence. as soon as the logic circuit 130 detects a malfunction in thepower supply. black body reference. py rometer or synchronizing pulsecircuits, it causes NAND 165a to trigger the sorter power supply 17a.The pulse from the signal generator 120 applied the NAND 165a will holdthe sorter open for a certain number of synchronizing pulses after themalfunction is corrected and circuit 130 resumes to provide a normaloutput pulse. in this way a certain number of ampoules reaching thepyrometer before and after the malfunction period may be rejected.

If individual ampoules are not within the temperature range the signalfrom 164a causes NAND 165a to trigger sorter power supply 17a and thussorter 30a when the out-of-temperature ampoule reaches the sorter.

In the aforementioned example. an ampoule sorter is so constructed thatit is activated by a logic signal output of its check circuit, but aplurality of ampoule sorters may be independently activated by theoutput signals of their respective check circuits.

Whether the temperature ofa heated ampoule is normal or not can bechecked by one of thediscriminating circuits. In this case. if aplurality of ampoule sorters are controlled by the output of the samediscriminating circuit. mixing of defective ampoules in good ampoulesdue to a malfunction of the ampoule sorters themselves can be prevented.

Further a conveying means itself or the section where the aforementionedhole 13 is located may be made from an infrared transmissive materialrather than providing the hole 13 in the conveying means.

Having thus described the invention with detail and particularity asrequired by the Patent Laws. what is desired protected by Letters Patentis set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

I. Apparatus for sterlizing liquid filled ampoules comprising amicrowave heating chamber. conveying means for moving said ampoulesthrough said chamber. means for producing a temperature signalindicative of the temperature of each ampoule passed through saidchamber. a check circuit means for comparing said temperature signalwith reference signals which define an allowable temperature signalrange and for generating a reject signal when said temperature signal isoutside of the allowable temperature signal range. and an ampoule sortermeans which is responsive to the reject signal for rejecting ampoules.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing thetemperature signal comprises a radiation pyrometer.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said check circuit meanscomprises a means for comparing said temperature signal with an upperlimit reference signal and means for comparing said temperature signalwith a lower limit reference signal and a logic circuit means forgenerating the reject signal.

4. Apparatus for sterilizing liquid filled ampoules comprising amicrowave heating chamber. a conveying means for rolling said ampoulesthrough said chamber, a black body reference maintained at a constanttemperature. and a control system comprising a radiation pyrometer meansfor alternately producing a first temperature signal indicative of thetemperature of each ampoule passed through said chamber and a secondtemperature signal indicative of the temperature of said black bodyreference. a first means for comparing the first temperature signal witha first set of reference signals defining an allowable first temperaturesignal range and for generating a first reject signal when said firsttemperature signal is now in the allowable first temperature signalrange. and a second means for comparing the second temperature signalwith a second set of reference signals defining an allowable secondtemperature signal range and for generating a second reject signal whensaid second temperature signal is not within the allowable secondtemperature signal range and at least one ampoule sorter means forrejecting ampoules. which is responsive to either the-first or second orboth reject signals and is positioned adjacent said conveying means andspaced downstream from said pyrometer means. a

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each said first and secondmeans for comparing and generating comprises a means for comparing saidfirst and second temperature signals from said radiation pyrometer meanswith upper reference signals and means for comparing said first andsecond temperature signals from said radiation pyrometer means withlower reference signals and a logic circuit means for generating rejectsignals.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a first signal processinglogic circuit means for receiving the first reject signals indicative ofout-of-temperature ampoules and at some time later causing the sortermeans spaced along the conveying means downstream from the pyrometermenas to when said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereat andcomprising deactivated a second signal processing logic circuit meansfor receiving the second reject signals and for activating sorter meansto reject at least any ampoule that was adjacent the pyrometer means atthe time said second reject signals were generated.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second signal processinglogic circuit means activates said sorter means to reject at least oneampoule that has passed the pyrometer means prior to the reject signalsand maintains said sorter means activated to reject at least one ampoulethat has not reached the pyrometer means after the discontinuation ofsaid first or second reject signals.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising means for generating afirst synchronizing signal coincident with the production of said firsttemperature signal indicative of each ampoule temperature, said firstmeans for comparing and generating said first reject signal beingresponsive to said first synchronizing signal.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising means for generating asecond synchronizing signal coincident with the production of saidsecond temperature signal indicative of the black body referencetemperature, said second means for comparing and generating the secondreject signal being responsive to said second synchronizing signal.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising means for comparing saidfirst and second synchronizing signals with a set of synchronizingreference signals defining an allowable synchronizing signal range andgenerating a synchronization defect signal when said first and secondsynchronizing signals are not within said allowable synchronizing signalrange wherein said ampoule sorter means is also responsive to saidsynchronization defect signal.

11. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a means for independentlyproducing a third temperature signal indicative of the temperature ofthe black body reference and a third means for comparing said thirdtemperature signal with a third set of reference signals defining anallowable third temperature signal range and for generating a thirdreject signal when said third temperature signal is not within theallowable third temperature signal range. and wherein said ampoulesorter means is also responsive to said third reject signal.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said third means forcomparing and generating said third reject signal comprises a means forcomparing the third temperature signal with an upper limit referencesignal. means for comparing the third temperature signal with a lowerlimit reference signal and a logic circuit means for generating rejectsignals.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising a first signal processinglogic circuit means for receiving the first reject signals indicative ofout-of-temperature ampoules and at some time later causing the sortermeans spaced along the conveying means downstream from the pyrometermeans to be activated when said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereatand comprising a second signal processing logic circuit means forreceiving the second and third defect signals and for activating saidsorter means to reject at least any ampoule that was adjacent thepyrometer means at the time said second or third reject signals weregenerated.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said second signalprocessing logic circuit means activates said sorter means to reject atleast one ampoule that has passed the pyrometer means prior to thereject signals and maintains said sorter means activated to reject atleast one ampoule that had not reached the pyrometer means after thediscontinuation of said first. second or third reject signals.

15. Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising a power source means forsupplying power to at least part of said control system. a fourth meansfor comparing the power of said power source means with referencesignals defining an allowable power range and for generating a fourthreject signal when said power is not within the allowable power rangeand wherein the ampoule sorter means is also responsive to the fourthreject signal.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said fourth means forcomparing and generating said fourth reject signal comprises a means forcomparing said power with an upper limit reference signal and means forcomparing said power with a lower limit reference signal and a logicmeans for generating reject signals.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 comprising a first signal processinglogic circuit means for receiving the first reject signals indicative ofout-of-temperature ampoules and at some time later causing the sortermeans spaced along the conveying means downstream from the pyrometermeans to be activated when said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereat.and comprising a second signal processing logic circuit means forreceiving the second, third and fourth defect signals and for activatingsaid sorter means to reject any ampoule that was adjacent the pyrometermeans at the time said second, third. or fourth reject signals weregenerated.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said second signalprocessing logic circuit means activates said sorter means to reject atleast one ampoule that had passed the pyrometer means prior to thereject signals and maintains said sorter means activated to reject atleast one ampoule that had not reached the pyrometer means after thediscontinuation of said first. second. third or fourth reject signals.

19. Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising a means for generating afirst synchronizing signal coincident with the production of said firsttemperature signal indicative of each ampoule temperature. said firstmeans for comparing and generating sid first reject signal beingresponsive to said first synchronizing signal.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 comprising means for generating asecond synchronizing signal coincident with the production of saidsecond temperature signal indicative of the black body referencetemperature said second means for comparing and generating the secondreject signal being responsive to said second synchronizing signal.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 comprising a fifth means forcomparing said first and second synchronizing signals with a set ofsynchronizing reference generating a fifth reject signal, when saidfirst and second synchronizing signals are not within said allowablesynchronizing signal range, wherein said ampoule sorter means is alsoresponsive to said fifth reject signal.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 comprising a first signal processinglogic circuit means for receiving the first reject signals indicative ofout-of-temperature ampoules and at sometime later causing the sortermeans spaced along the conveying means downstream from the pyrometermeans to be activated when said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereatand comprising a second signal processing logic circuit means forreceiving said second, third, fourth and fifth defect sig nals and foractivating said sorter means to reject at least any ampoule that wasadjacent the pyrometer means at the time said second, third, fourth orfifth defect signals were generated.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said second signalprocessing logic circuit means activates said sorter means to reject atleast one ampoule that had passed the pyrometer means prior to thereject signals and maintains said sorter means activated to reject atleast one ampoule that had not reached the pyrometer means after thediscontinuation of said first, second, third, fourth or fifth rejectsignals.

24. Apparatus for sterilizing liquid filled ampoules comprising amicrowave heating chamber, means for conveying ampoules through saidchamber having ampoule holding receptacles and openings at respectivelyequidistant intervals, said openings being spaced between saidequidistant ampoule receptacles, a radiation pyrometer means forproducing a temperature signal on one side of said conveying means, ablack body reference provided on the opposite side of said conveyingmeans aligned transversely with said radiation pyrometer means, saidradiation pyrometer means and black body reference both being positionedso as to align with said openings in said conveying means, a means forcomparing pyrometer means a temperature signal corresponding to eachampoule temperature with ampoule reference signals defining an allowableampoule temperature range and for generating a first reject signal whensaid pyrometer means ampoule temperature signal is not within theallowable ampoule temperature range, and means for comparing a pyrometermeans temperature signal corresponding to the black body referencetemperature with black body reference signals defining an allowableblack body temperature range and for generating a second reject signalwhen said pyrometer means black body temperature signal is not withinthe allowable black body temperature range and at least one ampoulesorter means which is responsive to either the first or second or bothreject signals for rejecting said ampoules.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said ampoule holdingrecepticles are defined by a plurality of cogs arranged parallel to eachother and at equidistant intervals on the ampoule conveying means.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the lower ends of the cogsare joined together by coupling plates, thereby forming said conveyingmeans.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26 wherein means is provided on eachsaid coupling plates to prevent said ampoules from inadvertantly fallingoff of said conveying means.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the cross-section of thecogs is trapezoidal in shape.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CETTFTCATE 0F CQRECTIQN PATENT NO. 3, 880,586

DATED 1 April 29, 1975 |NVENT0R(5) 1 Teruo Murayama et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown beiow:

Column 3 Line 30 --l/2 Q(or nX-i Q. should read Claim 4 Column 14 Line60 noW-- should read --not--.

Claim 6 Column 15 Line 19 After --to-- insert --be activated-n Claim 6Column 15 Line 20 Delete --deactivated--.

Claim 21 Column 17 Line 12 After --referenceinsert -signals defining anallowable synchronizing signal range and--.

Signed and Sealed this second Day Of September 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer ('mnmissiuner 0fPatents and Trademarks

1. Apparatus for sterlizing liquid filled ampoules comprising amicrowave heating chamber, conveying means for moving said ampoulesthrough said chamber, means for producing a temperature signalindicative of the temperature of each ampoule passed through saidchamber, a check circuit means for comparing said temperature signalwith reference signals which define an allowable temperature signalrange and for generating a reject signal when said temperature signal isoutside of the allowable temperature signal range, and an ampoule sortermeans which is responsive to the reject signal for rejecting ampoules.2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing thetemperature signal comprises a radiation pyrometer.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said check circuit means comprises a meansfor comparing said temperature signal with an upper limit referencesignal and means for comparing said temperature signal with a lowerlimit reference signal and a logic circuit means for generating thereject signal.
 4. Apparatus for sterilizing liquid filled ampoulescomprising a microwave heating chamber, a conveying means for rollingsaid ampoules through said chamber, a black body reference maintained ata constant temperature, and a control system comprising a radiationpyrometer means for alternately producing a first temperature signalindicative of the temperature of each ampoule passed through saidchamber and a second temperature signal indicative of the temperature ofsaid black body reference, a first means for comparing the firsttemperature signal with a first set of reference signals defining anallowable first temperature signal range and for generating a firstreject signal when said first temperature signal is now in the allowablefirst temperature signal range, and a second means for comparing thesecond temperature signal with a second set of reference signalsdefining an allowable second temperature signal range and for generatinga second reject signal when said second temperature signal is not withinthe allowable second temperature signal range and at least one ampoulesorter means for rejecting ampoules, which is responsive to either thefirst or second or bOth reject signals and is positioned adjacent saidconveying means and spaced downstream from said pyrometer means. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each said first and second meansfor comparing and generating comprises a means for comparing said firstand second temperature signals from said radiation pyrometer means withupper reference signals and means for comparing said first and secondtemperature signals from said radiation pyrometer means with lowerreference signals and a logic circuit means for generating rejectsignals.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a first signalprocessing logic circuit means for receiving the first reject signalsindicative of out-of-temperature ampoules and at some time later causingthe sorter means spaced along the conveying means downstream from thepyrometer menas to when said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereat andcomprising deactivated a second signal processing logic circuit meansfor receiving the second reject signals and for activating sorter meansto reject at least any ampoule that was adjacent the pyrometer means atthe time said second reject signals were generated.
 7. Apparatusaccording to claim 6 wherein said second signal processing logic circuitmeans activates said sorter means to reject at least one ampoule thathas passed the pyrometer means prior to the reject signals and maintainssaid sorter means activated to reject at least one ampoule that has notreached the pyrometer means after the discontinuation of said first orsecond reject signals.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprisingmeans for generating a first synchronizing signal coincident with theproduction of said first temperature signal indicative of each ampouletemperature, said first means for comparing and generating said firstreject signal being responsive to said first synchronizing signal. 9.Apparatus according to claim 8 comprising means for generating a secondsynchronizing signal coincident with the production of said secondtemperature signal indicative of the black body reference temperature,said second means for comparing and generating the second reject signalbeing responsive to said second synchronizing signal.
 10. Apparatusaccording to claim 9 comprising means for comparing said first andsecond synchronizing signals with a set of synchronizing referencesignals defining an allowable synchronizing signal range and generatinga synchronization defect signal when said first and second synchronizingsignals are not within said allowable synchronizing signal range whereinsaid ampoule sorter means is also responsive to said synchronizationdefect signal.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a means forindependently producing a third temperature signal indicative of thetemperature of the black body reference and a third means for comparingsaid third temperature signal with a third set of reference signalsdefining an allowable third temperature signal range and for generatinga third reject signal when said third temperature signal is not withinthe allowable third temperature signal range, and wherein said ampoulesorter means is also responsive to said third reject signal. 12.Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said third means for comparingand generating said third reject signal comprises a means for comparingthe third temperature signal with an upper limit reference signal, meansfor comparing the third temperature signal with a lower limit referencesignal and a logic circuit means for generating reject signals. 13.Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising a first signal processinglogic circuit means for receiving the first reject signals indicative ofout-of-temperature ampoules and at some time later causing the sortermeans spaced along the conveying means downstream from the pyrometermeans to be activated when said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereatand comprising a second signal processing logic circuit means forreceiving the second and third defect signAls and for activating saidsorter means to reject at least any ampoule that was adjacent thepyrometer means at the time said second or third reject signals weregenerated.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said secondsignal processing logic circuit means activates said sorter means toreject at least one ampoule that has passed the pyrometer means prior tothe reject signals and maintains said sorter means activated to rejectat least one ampoule that had not reached the pyrometer means after thediscontinuation of said first, second or third reject signals. 15.Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising a power source means forsupplying power to at least part of said control system, a fourth meansfor comparing the power of said power source means with referencesignals defining an allowable power range and for generating a fourthreject signal when said power is not within the allowable power rangeand wherein the ampoule sorter means is also responsive to the fourthreject signal.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said fourthmeans for comparing and generating said fourth reject signal comprises ameans for comparing said power with an upper limit reference signal andmeans for comparing said power with a lower limit reference signal and alogic means for generating reject signals.
 17. Apparatus according toclaim 15 comprising a first signal processing logic circuit means forreceiving the first reject signals indicative of out-of-temperatureampoules and at some time later causing the sorter means spaced alongthe conveying means downstream from the pyrometer means to be activatedwhen said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereat, and comprising asecond signal processing logic circuit means for receiving the second,third and fourth defect signals and for activating said sorter means toreject any ampoule that was adjacent the pyrometer means at the timesaid second, third, or fourth reject signals were generated. 18.Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said second signal processinglogic circuit means activates said sorter means to reject at least oneampoule that had passed the pyrometer means prior to the reject signalsand maintains said sorter means activated to reject at least one ampoulethat had not reached the pyrometer means after the discontinuation ofsaid first, second, third or fourth reject signals.
 19. Apparatusaccording to claim 12 comprising a means for generating a firstsynchronizing signal coincident with the production of said firsttemperature signal indicative of each ampoule temperature, said firstmeans for comparing and generating sid first reject signal beingresponsive to said first synchronizing signal.
 20. Apparatus accordingto claim 19 comprising means for generating a second synchronizingsignal coincident with the production of said second temperature signalindicative of the black body reference temperature said second means forcomparing and generating the second reject signal being responsive tosaid second synchronizing signal.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 20comprising a fifth means for comparing said first and secondsynchronizing signals with a set of synchronizing reference generating afifth reject signal, when said first and second synchronizing signalsare not within said allowable synchronizing signal range, wherein saidampoule sorter means is also responsive to said fifth reject signal. 22.Apparatus according to claim 21 comprising a first signal processinglogic circuit means for receiving the first reject signals indicative ofout-of-temperature ampoules and at sometime later causing the sortermeans spaced along the conveying means downstream from the pyrometermeans to be activated when said out-of-temperature ampoules are thereatand comprising a second signal processing logic circuit means forreceiving said second, third, fourth and fifth defect signals and foractivating said sorter means to reject at least any ampoule that wasadjacent the pyrometer meAns at the time said second, third, fourth orfifth defect signals were generated.
 23. Apparatus according to claim 22wherein said second signal processing logic circuit means activates saidsorter means to reject at least one ampoule that had passed thepyrometer means prior to the reject signals and maintains said sortermeans activated to reject at least one ampoule that had not reached thepyrometer means after the discontinuation of said first, second, third,fourth or fifth reject signals.
 24. Apparatus for sterilizing liquidfilled ampoules comprising a microwave heating chamber, means forconveying ampoules through said chamber having ampoule holdingreceptacles and openings at respectively equidistant intervals, saidopenings being spaced between said equidistant ampoule receptacles, aradiation pyrometer means for producing a temperature signal on one sideof said conveying means, a black body reference provided on the oppositeside of said conveying means aligned transversely with said radiationpyrometer means, said radiation pyrometer means and black body referenceboth being positioned so as to align with said openings in saidconveying means, a means for comparing pyrometer means a temperaturesignal corresponding to each ampoule temperature with ampoule referencesignals defining an allowable ampoule temperature range and forgenerating a first reject signal when said pyrometer means ampouletemperature signal is not within the allowable ampoule temperaturerange, and means for comparing a pyrometer means temperature signalcorresponding to the black body reference temperature with black bodyreference signals defining an allowable black body temperature range andfor generating a second reject signal when said pyrometer means blackbody temperature signal is not within the allowable black bodytemperature range and at least one ampoule sorter means which isresponsive to either the first or second or both reject signals forrejecting said ampoules.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 24 whereinsaid ampoule holding recepticles are defined by a plurality of cogsarranged parallel to each other and at equidistant intervals on theampoule conveying means.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein thelower ends of the cogs are joined together by coupling plates, therebyforming said conveying means.
 27. Apparatus according to claim 26wherein means is provided on each said coupling plates to prevent saidampoules from inadvertantly falling off of said conveying means. 28.Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the cross-section of the cogs istrapezoidal in shape.